VERNON HILLS -- Taking on a new role this season, Sophie Gray is starting to get used to playing up top in a forward spot. The Deerfield junior and former defender is starting to find the change to her liking.

And the results are starting to present themselves in the form of goals. She knocked one home along with teammate Margot Sylvan, and Melanie Imyak and Erin Rosenzweig added assists in the Warriors 2-0 road win against Vernon Hills.

The victory came in the consolation pool of the PepsiCo Showdown after fifth-seeded Deerfield was upset 2-1 by no. 12-seed Nazareth in the opening round of Gatorade Bracket play Saturday in Schaumburg.

But Gray and her teammates were more than ready to move on Tuesday. For her, the new position adds a intriguing wrinkle to the game.

"I've actually been a defender my whole life," Gray said. "It's a new experience playing forward, because we've got all seniors in the back line now. So I now have the opportunity to play forward."

Gray scored her other goal early in the season against Antioch. This one came off a corner kick off the leg of Imyak. Gray moved to the ball and found the back of the net near the back post in the 31st minute.

The game’s first goal gave the Warriors the momentum.

"It was served in, and it got jumbled up," Gray said. "It got by (teammate Jesse Holloway). And then I hit it with my body, and it bounced in. The best part was that it caused some commotion. To score, really helps out my team and that goal was really important."

Sylvan was the a big part of Warriors' team play, especially for her ability with the ball. For her many contributions she earned Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match honors. She led going forward into the final third of the field and set up for the first goal because of her attack. Her presence caused havoc in the midfield which led to the corner kick.

The Warriors (6-2-0) displayed good teamwork against Vernon Hills.

"I think we're playing well as a team and defending together," Gray said. "We're passing to the feet with possession and playing good soccer."

That’s good news for the Warriors, who ended a 2-game losing in which they allowed 4 goals. That followed unscored-upon victories in Deerfield’s first 5 games of the season.

Vernon Hills (3-5-1) was knocked out the ATI Bracket and into the consolation pool by Lockport.

The Cougarshad a premium shot at tying the match early in the second half after a Deerfield defender took down forward Alex Ludolph in the penalty area. However, Vernon Hills couldn't convert from the spot after the shot went just wide of the post in the 41st minute of play.

"I think every great player in the world misses PKs," Vernon Hills coach Mike McCaulou said. "I think our only reaction after that was our heads going down a little bit.

“We did get a great opportunity with the PK. If we bury it, then it totally changes the complexity of the game. But at the same time, we should've responded in a better way. Then Deerfield capitalized on us."

That came from the effort of Sylvan, who stepped up and lofted a shot under the cross bar from a Rosenzweig assist six minutes later for the 2-0 advantage. Sylvan now has scored four goals this season.

Sylvan plays a big part in the Warriors midfield. She is equally adept at moving forward or help out on the attack or dropping back to bolster the defense.

"I was like more of a roamer," Sylvan said. "We play a diamond, and I look to go everywhere. I take the ball forward or dish the ball off on the sides of the diamond."

She always has shown her ability not only on the soccer field but has been one of the leaders on the basketball court for several years with the Warriors. It has complemented her efforts on the soccer pitch.

"I try to stay real active on the field and on the court," Sylvan said. "I try to move all the time. I try to look in basketball for passes and dish to my teammates for assists. In soccer, I like to go forward and like to get the ball to my teammates."

Sari Eisen earned the clean sheet with 3 saves for the Warriors. It was a good effort for Deerfield to get back on the winning track.

"It was good to win against a team that's in our sectional," Deerfield coach Rich Grady said. "Really, I just wanted them to have a good performance, and they did. We got everybody into the game, and we didn't pick up any more injuries.

“It was a good game for us, because (Vernon Hills) likes to possess the ball and move the ball around a lot. So, they gave us some things at halftime that we had to sort out defensively. I'm pleased with the performance overall."

Deerfield seems to be getting heathier as the season is going on. They played the match with only two starters out. Junior defender McKenna Crockford is not in action due to a concussion, and sophomore midfielder Samantha Linn is on the shelf with a broken collarbone.